Clash between AI Advocates and AI Soldiers, spearheaded by Sam Altman and Mark Zuckerberg, unfolds in a bitter struggle for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and AI Super-Intelligence.
In the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI), two distinct groups of developers have emerged, each with a unique approach to achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Superintelligence (ASI). These groups, commonly known as AI Missionaries and AI Mercenaries, represent differing philosophies and motivations in the pursuit of groundbreaking AI technology.
AI Missionaries are individuals deeply committed to the mission of developing AGI/ASI for broader, often altruistic or transformative purposes. They are driven by a belief in the cause itself, dedicating themselves with strong purpose and idealism. This mindset emphasizes long-term goals like building safe, beneficial superintelligences and advancing humanity’s technological future responsibly. OpenAI, under Sam Altman’s leadership, has been characterised as fostering a mission-driven culture, emphasizing responsible AI development and innovation through dedication to a common mission rather than short-term gain.
In contrast, AI Mercenaries are motivated primarily by financial incentives and personal gain. They may move between organizations driven by lucrative offers, such as the high-paying AI talent poaching seen with Meta’s AI Superintelligence Lab hiring top researchers internationally with large sign-on bonuses. These researchers, often immigrants attracted by big paydays, are sometimes described as more transactional in their relationship to AI development, being "mercenaries" rather than mission-driven believers.
The dichotomy between these two groups reflects different philosophies about how to best achieve AGI and ASI: with deep dedication to ethical and transformative outcomes (missionaries) versus leveraging top talent motivated by market incentives (mercenaries). The debate continues about which approach better serves the complex challenges of developing superintelligent AI systems.
The choice between AI missionaries and AI mercenaries could determine the fate of an AI maker's legacy and the fate of the AI-making firm. The best way to attain AGI and ASI is debated, with some arguing that having AI talent challenge each other is the most motivational approach. However, cynics and skeptics argue that the AI talent wars are mainly a smoke-and-mirrors ploy, with little focus on AGI and ASI.
Mixing AI missionaries and AI mercenaries could lead to costly employees who avoid each other, potentially causing infighting and distractions. The path to AGI and ASI is uncertain, much like the road to success. The road to AGI and ASI is believed to require top-notch AI developers who can advance contemporary AI. The marketplace perception of which AI maker has the right talent is important, as it can serve as a barometer and provide street cred.
The AI talent war is debated over hiring both AI missionaries and AI mercenaries, rather than choosing one over the other. The goal is to either reach AGI or ASI, which is AI that matches human intellect and AI that is superior in many, if not all, feasible ways. We have not yet attained AGI, and it is unknown whether we will reach it or when. The idea of bringing together top AI talent to work seamlessly towards AGI and ASI is one of many approaches to the task.
As the race to develop AGI and ASI continues, the question remains: which approach will lead to the most successful and ethical outcomes? The answer is yet to be seen, but one thing is certain - the future of AI development is in the hands of those who are driven by purpose and those who are driven by profit.
- The pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) lies at the intersection of technology and artificial intelligence (AI), engaging both AI Missionaries and AI Mercenaries, each driven by their unique motivations: the former by a commitment to ethical and transformative outcomes, and the latter by financial incentives and personal gain.
- In the future path of AI development, the building and hiring of human resources involve a diverse array of talent, including solo coders, computing servers, and AI developers. The debate continues whether leveraging both missionary and mercenary minds will lead to the most successful and ethical outcomes, as tech giants like Meta, under Mark Zuckerberg's leadership, and organizations such as OpenAI, under Sam Altman, focus on prediction and shaping the AI landscape with AI advancements like ChatGPT (GPT4-O, O1, O3) and future AI models.
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